Juvenile prison guard’s attack on girl, 15, caught on CCTV

Outrage after suspect Shannon Linn Abbott is allowed to return to work

14/12/2012 12:07 PM

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CCTV: Juvenile prison guard’s attack on girl, 15, caught on camera

A GUARD at a juvenile prison in Florida was arrested after she was caught on CCTV viciously attacking a 15-year-old girl.

According to Miami Herald Shannon Linn Abbott was taken into custody by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and is facing battery charges.

The shocking footage of the August 9 assault shows the guard slamming the teen face-first against a concrete wall. The girl was also thrown on the floor before Abbott sat on her for several minutes.

The victim, who has not been identified because of her age, was said to have told police that Abbott was “angry” at her for being “disruptive in the classroom.”

‘DEEPLY CONCERNED’

Shortly after the 33-year-old’s arrest she granted bail and was allowed to return to her role at the privately managed Milton Girls Juvenile Residential.

The controversial decision led the Department of Juvenile Justice to ask the director to remove the guard from “all access to children.”

Laura K. Moneyham, a DJJ assistant secretary, told the local newspaper: “It is our expectation, at the very least, that this staff member will have no contact with youth in any of our programs.”

“We are deeply concerned that the incident, as depicted in the video contradicts its description to us by officials representing the facility.

“We are also troubled that the facility did not officially report the incident to DJJ until two days after it occurred, and only when the victim called the [Department of Children and Families] abuse hotline. This lapse is inexplicable,” she added.